Queen Máxima discusses inclusive finance online with upcoming Italian G20 Presidency

On Monday morning 30 November, in her capacity as UN Special Advocate, Her Majesty Queen Máxima ‘visited’ the upcoming Italian G20 Presidency in an online meeting. She spoke with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Governor of the Bank of Italy Ignazio Visco about inclusive finance. Italy will hold the G20 Presidency as of 1 December.

Queen Máxima spoke with the Prime Minister and Governor about the G20’s inclusive finance objectives. She also participated in a virtual roundtable discussion with experts in this area, chaired by governor Visco. The overarching theme of Italy’s Presidency will be ‘People, Planet and Prosperity’.

Queen Máxima is the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development and Honorary Patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI). Proper access to financial services, and the ability to use them securely, enhances people’s scope for economic and social development. Worldwide, 1.7 billion adults still have no access to a current or savings account, insurance policies, loans, pensions or digital payments. Women, small businesses and farmers, and people with a low income are the worst affected (Global Findex 2017). The corona crisis has given an extra dimension to the importance of the development and introduction of secure financial services for countries’ economic recovery.

The G20 is a global forum made up of the world’s 19 largest national economies and the European Union. Its mission is to contribute to global economic growth and development. As honorary patron of the GPFI, Queen Máxima strives to advance the G20’s work on inclusive finance.